Flickr/MIKI YoshihitoHaving happy employees isn't just a way to boost office morale or boost your reviews on Glassdoor.

Studies show that employees who feel satisfied at work will be more productive, help recruit great team members, and stay put at your company much longer than employees who simply view their work as a job.

Happy employees are of the utmost importance to your bottom line, so here are 6 ways to boost employee happiness at work.

1. Let them work remotely

We're in an era of constant connectivity. With platforms like Skype and now Slack, it's easier than ever to communicate when you're not in the same room. If your team is still operating on a traditional 9-5 office model, it's time to consider shaking things up.

Studies show that people are both more productive and happier when they have the freedom to work from home, even if it's only some of the time. Telecommuting at least one day a week is becoming so commonplace that top candidates are going to look to see what sort of flexibility you offer when they consider joining your team.

And you can be sure your current employees will resent not having the option to work from home when their peers increasingly do so very effectively.

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2. Commit to their professional development

For really smart people, what matters most in a job isn't the paycheck or the lifestyle the job affords; it's the professional development the company offers. The most driven employees (the ones you want) will have accepted your job in spite of many other opportunities.

You should work to constantly reaffirm that they made the right choice by helping them progress in their careers and develop new skills. Hold training sessions in-house or sponsor extension courses that help your employees develop new skill sets.

As an employee, there is no shortchanging the benefit of knowing that you're in a working environment that celebrates learning and creates the circumstances for further development at every chance.

3. Embrace autonomy

No one likes having someone breathing down their necks. Remember, in hiring an employee, you decided they were qualified for the job and a good fit for your company culture.

You were also convinced enough by their work ethic and drive to extend an offer. Once that decision is made, you should step back and allow them to take charge in their role.

Of course, you should still do a thorough onboarding job, but once that's done, step back and allow them to come to you if they need further guidance. Too much hand-holding gives the impression that they're not prepared for their job or that you don't trust them. Stepping back is a nonverbal way of showing confidence in their capabilities and potential.

4. Encourage breaks

We all know that there is no such thing as an eight, ten, or twelve-hour productivity peak, so why do companies require employees to spend their entire day at a desk? This actively hurts your company's overall productivity and contributes to greater levels of stress in your employees.

Studies show that more than 85% of employees believe that taking regular breaks during the day will make them more productive, but over half of those surveyed don't take breaks because they feel it's looked down upon to do so. This means that a lot of the time people spend in front of their screens is just to appease the people around them, not because they're getting a lot done.

Encourage your employees to stretch their legs, get out, or even go for a midday gym session whenever they need to, as long as they get their work done.

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5. Give them the full picture

Business executives have a clearer picture of where the company is heading than their employees. Make sure you're keeping employees in the loop regarding things like structural changes that affect the bottom line or new strategic initiatives that will shape the company's future.

When you assign a task, don't assume your employees know how it will connect to the bigger picture, so tell them how it relates to the company's mission. This will help them understand how and why the work they are doing is important, thus making them work harder on the project and take greater pride in it.

6. Keep work at work

The increasing breakdown of the strict physical delineation between the workspace and home can mean that the workday never stops. So you need to put measures in place that remind yourself and your team to give themselves time to rejuvenate.

Shonda Rhimes, one of television's most successful producers and writers, put it aptly when she said: "work will happen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year if you let it." To combat this, Rhimes went ahead and led by example, ending every email with a signature that alerts recipients that she won't be responding to emails after 7 p.m. or on the weekend.

If you work for her, she continues, then she advises you to turn off your devices also. Now this isn't a move an employee can pull without an executive leading the charge, so as a manager, you should find ways — through email signatures or otherwise — to promote a healthy work-life balance. Employees that start their days and weeks feeling refreshed are going to avoid burnout in the long run.

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As with every element of improving employee happiness on this list, it's the responsibility of managers to lead by example. It will be well worth your effort. A happier workforce has huge payoffs when it comes to productivity, creativity, and employee engagement.

Drew Hendricks is a tech, social media and environmental addict. He's written for many major publishers, such as Forbes and Entrepreneur. You can contact him on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.